The relationship between serum magnesium levels and sexual function in female patients with type 2 diabetes

The incidence of diabetes mellitus is rapidly increasing and uncontrolled chronic hyperglycemia leads to severe complications. Sexual dysfunction is one of the common but neglected complication of diabetes with a complex pathogenesis. Magnesium is an essential intracellular cation that plays an important role in glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. Low serum concentrations of magnesium were shown in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum magnesium levels and sexual dysfunction in female patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 335 individuals, consisting of 167 women with type 2 diabetes and 168 healthy controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Magnesium levels were measured and the female sex function index scores were calculated. The Turkish version of the female sex function index was used to assess sexual dysfunction. The association between the female sex function index score and magnesium levels was investigated. Serum magnesium levels and the female sex function index scores were significantly lower in patients with type 2 diabetes (p <0,001). A significant positive correlation was also observed between magnesium levels and female sex function index scores (p <0.001, r = 0.453). Low plasma concentrations of magnesium may lead to sexual dysfunction in female patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, magnesium levels should be controlled in patients with type 2 diabetes and magnesium supplementation should be considered a complementary treatment in such cases.